June 4, 2024 • 53 mins
In this episode of Black is America podcast, delve into the inspiring story of Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe, a remarkable African-American hero of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Host Dominic Lawson narrates the gripping account of Cashe’s selfless bravery on a fateful night in October 2005. Learn about his early life in Oviedo, Florida, his distinguished military career, and the extraordinary courage he displayed when his unit was attacked by an IED.
This episode not only highlights Cashe’s heroic actions but also explores the significant contributions of black non-commissioned officers throughout military history. Drawing parallels to historical figures like John Horse and the Black Seminoles, Lawson provides a rich, contextual narrative that honors the legacy of African-American soldiers.
Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, Alwyn Cashe’s legacy is a testament to the valor and sacrifice of black soldiers. Join us as we celebrate his life, his heroism, and the lasting impact he has made on military history.
Episode Breakdown:
Introduction: The episode opens on a moonlit night on October 17, 2005, in the Aladin province of Iraq. Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe is on patrol with his unit when their Bradley fighting vehicle is struck by an IED, igniting a series of events that would define Cashe’s legacy as an American hero.
Background: Listeners are taken through Cashe’s early life in Oviedo, Florida, where he grew up as the youngest of ten siblings. Despite humble beginnings, Cashe’s dedication and adventurous spirit led him to enlist in the United States Army in 1988. His military career spans multiple conflicts, including Operation Desert Storm, where he honed his leadership skills and built a reputation for courage under fire.
The Heroic Incident: The heart of the episode details the harrowing incident where Cashe’s vehicle is hit by an IED. Despite being drenched in fuel and engulfed in flames, Cashe selflessly rescues his fellow soldiers, displaying unmatched bravery. His actions on that night, pulling each soldier from the burning vehicle while under enemy fire, highlight his extraordinary heroism and dedication.
Reflection and Legacy: The narrative reflects on the significant role of black non-commissioned officers in the military, drawing parallels between Cashe’s actions and the historical bravery of figures like John Horse and the Black Seminoles. Personal anecdotes and historical context enrich the story, emphasizing the profound impact of African-American soldiers in shaping military history.
Recognition and Honors: The episode concludes with a tribute to Cashe’s legacy, detailing the posthumous awards and recognitions he received, including the Medal of Honor. The story of Cashe's heroism continues to inspire, and his legacy is honored through various dedications, including military facilities and community spaces named in his memory.
That time Daniel "Chappie" James had to let Moammar Gadhafi know what was up
Sources for this episode include The United States Army, The Department of Defense, The White House, the Center for Disease Control, the program 60 Minutes courtesy of CBS News, C-Span, ABC 10 Sacramento, Dr. Amy Sturgis of Lenoir-Rhyne University in collaboration with Learn Liberty, The Washington Post, The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, The Los Angles Times The Orlando Sentinel, and the Honolulu Star Advertiser.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
It is a moonlit night on October 17th,
2005 in the Aladin province
of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom,
the first Battalion 15th Infantry regimen.
Third division is on patrol.
Their mission is to ensure a vitalsupply route from the BAH air base
(00:22):
remains safe.
This area is notorious for whatsoldiers call Red Air or what
science call Sandstorms. Andthis night is no different.
The storm is so severe that it preventsUS aircraft from observing potential
threats along the road.Despite the challenges,
(00:43):
many leaders in the unit, includingSergeant First Class Alvin C,
cash consider the roadtoo important to neglect.
This makes sense.
Sergeant Cash has always prioritizedthe mission and teamwork.
The Oviedo Florida native came fromhumble beginnings and often had to work
(01:04):
together with others tosurvive tough conditions and
cash is not new to warfare. Shortlyafter graduating high school,
he enlisted in the United StatesArmy in 1988 and participated in
numerous military conflicts includingOperation Desert Storm in the
early 1990s. So there's not muchyou can throw at Sergeant Cash that
(01:28):
he hasn't seen before. However,
warfare has evolved since the 91version of the Middle East conflict.
Open area battles have largelybeen replaced by military drones,
building to building firefightsand improvised explosive devices
or IEDs. The mission callsfor Bradley fighting vehicles,
(01:50):
heavily armed infantry transportsoutfitted with significant firepower
in the combat precheck,
one of the Bradleys experienceda mechanical malfunction.
This was the one Sergeant Cashwas originally assigned to,
so he decides to get in the lead.Bradley in the gunner's hatch,
leading from the front, a convoyof 17 soldiers and an interpreter.
(02:14):
As a soldier, you are trainedand prepared for a lot.
US military excels at this,but in the fog of war,
deception often prevails.
An IED explodes underneathCassius Bradley,
penetrating and immobilizing the vehicle,
engulfing it into flames.Sergeant Cass's uniform is now drenched
(02:38):
in fuel. His men aretrapped inside the Brad.
Now he makes it out of the gunner'shatch, but once he hits the ground,
he draws enemy fire fired. SergeantCash is in a precarious position.
His men are trapped in a burningvehicle is being shot at and his uniform
is soaked in fuel. Hehas to think quicker.
(03:02):
Lesser men will havefolded under pressure,
but as Marcus Aurelius once said,
the impediment to action advancesaction what stands in the
way becomes the way.
So this Florida native turns soldierknows what he must do and shows us what
people close to him have alwaysknown. Sergeant first Class Owl C.
(03:24):
Cash is just built different.
We come from innovators,heroes, and royalty.
We are our ancestors'. Greatesthope. We face many challenges,
but we mold that adversityinto our greatest strength.
(03:45):
We are the glue that holds a nationtogether and allows it to flourish.
Welcome to Black Is America,
the podcast that highlights little knownAfrican-American figures and stories
that make our history cometo life. I'm your host,
Dominic Lawson. Episode three, Alwin Cash.
(04:07):
The American Sergeant
From the outside looking in, it's easyto think that commissioned officers,
you know your lieutenants, your captains,
and your lieutenant colonels inthe US Army get all the glory.
(04:28):
While many deserveconsiderable recognition,
it is the non-commissionedofficer. These are your sergeants,
sergeant first classes and first sergeantsor the NCO that is considered the
heartbeat of the army.
They are the drill sergeants that moldyou from the time you get off the bus at
basic training to the first sergeantyou answer to at your final roll call.
(04:50):
They are the unsung heroes,
the mentors and the ones thatprovide tough love when needed.
And that is so much truer when it comesto the black non-commissioned officer.
I still remember being part of a livefire exercise with my weapon jammed in
basic training. I knew the protocolwhich to perform the acronym,
sports slap, pull, observe, release,
(05:14):
tap shoot. But this was the firsttime I needed to perform that
action in an exercise and Ipanicked and buckled under the
pressure observing all of thiswith Staff Sergeant Tyrone Kirk.
Now Sergeant Kirk stood about 6 3,
6 4 and was a solid 250 pounds imposing
(05:35):
to say the least. However, his demeanorwas quite different, don't get me wrong.
He was tough, but he was approachable,warm and downright funny.
Imagine Bernie Mack witha drill sergeant's hat.
So he's watching me fail underpressure and he piles on.
It's an onslaught of insults,jokes, name calling and more.
(05:57):
I had never heard him chew out anyother soldier like that before.
And if I'm being honest, I thinkI was more hurt than embarrassed.
But after the training exercise,he pulled me to the side. Lawson,
I know I was tough on you back there,
but that's my job becausewhen you get to the sandbox,
they will have no mercy on you. Thesandbox is what a rack is often called by
(06:20):
military personnel.
He explained that he needed to shakethe jitters and nervousness out of me,
not if but when I was deployed,
but it was what he said next. Ididn't expect his tone became softer.
He sounded more like a dadthan a molder of soldiers.
Lawson man, you are not like mostsoldiers that come into my army.
(06:43):
I can actually see you doingsomething else once you leave service.
Just know that even then you are goingto be put in situations where you will
have to perform.
So whether that be the sandbox or ajob interview in the civilian world,
I want you to be prepared forwhatever is thrown at you.
I never forgot that interaction andas I pursued the entrepreneurial
(07:06):
life and made a name formyself in the podcasting world,
it made an impact on me. I thought abouthim a few years ago and looked him up.
I wanted to say thank you for him pouringinto me that hot Oklahoma afternoon,
but I'll never get thatopportunity because Sergeant Kirk went on to be with the
ancestors on February 7th, 2017.
(07:28):
I want him to know he made an impactin my life and I'll never forget that,
which is why I dedicatethis episode to him,
a man who only spent nine weekswith me that changed everything.
But Sergeant Kirk's legacy is justone of the many black non-commissioned
officers that have made animpact in the United States Army,
(07:51):
making it arguably the most formidablefighting force the world has ever seen.
Their Sergeant William Butler,
part of the Harlem Hell fighters thatwe mentioned in season two or Halen from
the Sunshine State is MasterSergeant Juanita Wilson retired who
after suffering an injuryto her arm in 2004,
became the first African-Americanwoman amputee from a US conflict.
(08:15):
Her resilience and leadershiphave continued as she now advocates for veterans,
proven that the spirit of thenon-commissioned officer never fades on
or off the battlefield.
And that leads us to tell thestory of fellow Floridian Al Cash,
which is one of courage sacrificeand an undying commitment to
(08:37):
his fellow soldiers.
This is the tale that proves that for allthe amazing professionals in the armed
forces, there's nothing likethe NCO clipboard in hand,
heart in the other,
making heroes out of humans.Al Cash was born
July, 1319 in Oviedo,
Florida to Andrew and Ruby May Cash.
(08:59):
He was part of a big family asthe youngest of 10 siblings.
They didn't have the finer things inlife, but they had what they needed.
The patriarch of the familywas a hardworking man in construction who instilled
that work ethic in his kids.He would tell his kids,
whatever you do, do it likeyou're putting your name on it.
(09:19):
He led by example until hispassing very early in Alvin's life.
That's not bad advice. Whatever you do,
do it like you're putting your name onit. I might have to use that later. Now,
uncle Al was the adventurous typeof kid. He loved to fish and hunt.
And when you live in aplace like Central Florida,
(09:40):
you're set up quite nicelyfor those activities.
And then there was the other stuff.Young boys tried to do Bill ramps
and jumped him with your bikeand dare devil type of stuff.
He also would jump off thehouse just to see if he could.
His siblings often teased hismom about being soft on Allen.
Remember he was the youngest of 10. Soby the time his parents are a bit older,
(10:04):
they may not have been as strict asthey were on Allen's older siblings,
but there could be anotherreason they did this as well.
Risk taking is something thatgoes hand in hand with leadership,
but now that I think about it,given where Uncle Al grew up,
risk taking and forging your ownpath is a bit of a common theme.
(10:28):
But who can I be thinking of? Am Ithinking of Daniel Chappy? James Jr.
The Pensacola native who flew almost200 missions in Korea and Vietnam.
He was also the first black fourstar general in military history.
And while serving as the commandingofficer at the US Air Force Base in Libya,
he almost had to pull that burner outon more Margaret Dfi when the Libon
(10:51):
dictator pulled up to the gate. Trustme, there's a whole story there.
Check out the show notes to seewhat I mean, but nah, that's not it.
Who am I thinking of? Who is it thata young Al and Cash reminds me of?
I swear it's on the tip of my tongue.
Our ancestors were some of the mostfiercest fighters doing the war.
(11:13):
During the Indian Wars. Yes.
Wait, Indian Wars. Okay, I think it'scoming back to me. Hey Uncle Bud Crockett,
speak on it a bit further withEmily Cartwright of 60 Minutes.
The longtime CBS news program joggedmy memory just a little bit more.
Due to the fact thatthey knew if they were
recaptured,
(11:34):
they were going intoslavery back in the slavery.
Okay, got it. Let me get you up tospeed. See, Alwin, like I said before,
is born in Vedo, Florida,
which sits in Seminole County referringto the Seminole tribe of Native
Americans, prevalent inFlorida, Oklahoma, and Mexico.
(11:54):
That's who he reminds me of.
The person I was trying to rememberis John Hors and the Black Seminoles.
Yep, you heard me right there is asuch thing as the black Seminoles.
And to show you what I mean,
let's rewind the tape so I can show youthe connection between that risk taking
Spirit and Uncle Al. Man Uncle Bud,
(12:16):
you are a real one for that assist.
I just love when the ancestors comethrough in the clutch like that. Okay,
let's go right about here.
It's Florida. In the early 18 hundreds,
it's a wild untamed land whereNative Americans and runaway
enslaved black people found refuge.
(12:37):
These two groups seekingshelter from oppressive forces,
the US government came together,formed a mixed society having babies,
and from that birth, the blackSeminoles. Now remember during this time,
Florida was not part of theUnited States, but owned by Spain,
but the Spanish made a deal with theblack Seminals that if they defended
(12:59):
Florida,
they were thereby defending the crownso they could stay there in peace as far
as the Spanish were concerned.
So imagine a large community ofNative Americans and black people
working together, thrivingtogether, building families,
but also heavily armed together
(13:21):
after the American RevolutionaryWar. As you can imagine,
many southern white people,particularly those who own the enslaved,
didn't like that at all.
The reason for this that ifyou were enslaved and ran away and found yourself in
Florida,
you would be able to live there andlive your best life as a free person.
(13:43):
And if you were a plantation owner outhere trying to move this cotton and
tobacco and you primarily depended onfree labor, that would be a problem.
I mean, it's a personal problem,but a problem all the same.
So in 1818 then General AndrewJackson invaded Florida in an
attempt to take it for the UnitedStates, and when he got there,
(14:04):
he began murdering theleaders in the territory.
Later the United States wouldpurchase Florida and then General turn
president Andrew Jackson will beginhis infamous doctrine of the removal
of Native Americans,
thereby leading to something you probablyare familiar with. The Trail of Tears.
(14:26):
This prompts the secondSeminole War, a brutal conflict.
It was the costliest of the Indian wars,
both in terms of money andlives lost. Amidst the chaos,
the black Seminoles led by thecharismatic John Hors fought bravely and
for good reason. By this point,
John had helped create the largesthaven in the US South for runaway
(14:49):
enslaved people and led thelargest slave revolt in US history.
In addition to that,
they secured the only emancipationof rebellious enslaved people
prior to the US Civil War.Over the next seven years,
the US government found out that theBlack Seminoles were not an easy way and
had to make a deal withthem to end the fighting.
(15:13):
The agreement promised thatif they move to Oklahoma,
they will be left in peace,
including those who had run awayto be with the Black Seminoles.
But as you know by now,
sometimes the US government beon that when it comes to keeping
promises,
which leads us to the pointwhere US Attorney General Nathan Clifford enters the
(15:34):
chat in 1848,
the Attorney General said that the federalgovernment never had the authority to
recognize their freedom and thatthose who had been enslaved or in fact
still enslaved. So not only didthe white Southerners consider it
open season on these black seminoles,
but even some of the neighboring NativeAmerican tribes would attack them
(15:58):
as well as they traveledto and settled in Oklahoma.
So John Hors knew he had to leavethe state and ultimately the
United States facing betrayal,
John Hors and his followers embarkedon yet another extraordinary journey.
They formed the largest mass exodus ofenslaved people across the United States
(16:19):
ultimately seeking refuge inMexico. And here's the kicker,
John Hors didn't justfind safety in Mexico.
He became a general in the Mexicanarmy. And under his leadership,
the black Seminoles received protectionfrom the Mexican government creating a
new haven for their community.
The story of John Hors inthe Black Seminoles is a statement to the strength and
(16:42):
resilience of those who daredto fight for their freedom.
It also proves that we got it right withthe title of this show as it relates to
aligning ourselves with Native Americans.
Black truly is America.
So yeah, that is whoUncle Al reminded me of.
(17:04):
And it makes sense that he would graduatefrom Oviedo High School at 17 promptly
joined the Army the same yearat the suggestion of a friend.
It fit him because to know Al and Cashwas to know that he was an outgoing and
adventurous kid, but thatdidn't always serve him well.
He often struggled in school and sometimesfound himself in trouble with the
(17:25):
law.
So it's probably safe to assume thathe was seen as a problem child heading
on a trajectory of notbeing a productive citizen.
But as an education company, I thinkthis is a great reminder of two things.
First,
little black boys in schools areoften written off as behavior problems
(17:45):
because they don't conform to whatis seen as air quote traditional
education. But just like everyonecomes from different backgrounds,
everyone also learns differently,
which is why it's imperativefor us as educators,
mentors and parents tomeet kids where they are,
to get them to where they are going.
We should train them to be what theyneed to be for themselves later in life,
(18:09):
not just what we need themto be for us right now.
Because when Uncle Al got intothe army, he found his calling,
but you don't have to take my word for it,
he was casal Cash White Aland sister proving my point.
He liked to hunt fish. He wasall into the things you guys do,
repelling, jumping off ofbuildings when he was younger,
(18:31):
jumping off the top of thehouse just to see if he could.
I tell people he found his niche when hewent into the army because he was able
to use all of his energies and the armydidn't stop him from doing anything.
And my second point is bestsummed up by the queen of jazz,
African-American singer, Ella Fitzgerald.Quote, it's not where you come from,
(18:51):
it's where you're going Thatcounts. And for Uncle Al,
he certainly was going placesin his military career.
He first started off as a supplyspecialist and then came an infantryman.
11 Bravo is the MOS or militaryoccupational specialty.
He proved his leadership medal andbecame a squad leader responsible for
(19:13):
training the soldiers andteam leaders in his squad.
He loved it so much that he ultimatelybecame a drill sergeant wanting to
teach, train and mold the nextcrop of soldiers for the army.
But I'll get into thata little bit more later.
Besides the position Uncle Al would hold,
there will also be the places he wouldbe stationed and deployed around the
(19:36):
world, even to help liberatea Middle Eastern country.
In the early 1990s,
In the late 1980s, there wastension in the Middle East.
Iraq under the dictatorship of SaddamHussein had just emerged from an eight
year war with Iran.
(19:58):
The conflict left Iraq economicallydevastated with staggering debts,
particularly to neighboringKuwait and Saudi Arabia.
So when you're a dictator with a Godcomplex in a broke country that owes debts
to the neighboringcountry, what do you do?
You make accusations and you invade them.
So Saddam Hussein seeking to rebuild hiseconomy and assert regional dominance,
(20:22):
turned his eyes to Kuwait. He accusedthe Kuwaits of slant drilling,
extracting oil from the fields that Iraqconsider its own and of intentionally
depressing oil prices throughoverproduction. So on August 2nd, 1990,
Hussain's forces invaded Kuwaitswiftly overwhelming the small
nation. The internationalcommunity was quick to respond.
(20:46):
The United Nations condemned the invasionand imposed economic sanctions on
Iraq.
This led the US president to build acoalition of nations to liberate Kuwait
and he addressed the nationon January 16th, 1991.
Ladies and gentlemen, thepresident of the United States,
George HW Bush.
(21:07):
This conflict started August2nd when the dictator of Iraq
invaded a small andhelpless neighbor Kuwait.
A member of the Arab League and amember of the United Nations was crushed
its people brutalized. Five months ago,
Sadam Hussain started thiscruel war against Kuwait.
(21:29):
Tonight the battle has been joined.
Operation Desert Shield was launchedmarking the buildup of coalition
forces in Saudi Arabia to deterthe further Iraqi aggression.
By the end of January, 1991,
US troops had been deployed to thePersian Gulf alongside forces from 34
nations.
(21:49):
Among these troops were thousandsof African-American soldiers serving
bravely in various capacities fromthe frontline of infantry to crucial
support roles. And thiswould include Sergeant Cash.
Just four years earlier,
he was running up and down thehalls of Oviedo High School,
but now he found himself in thedesert sands of the Middle East,
(22:13):
but I don't think anyone wasworried about how he would do there.
Uncle Al was the type that trainedvigorously and brought the fight to the
enemy.
Carlos Cash Uncle Al's brother oncetold him about a conversation Alvin
had with an officer. The officer askedwhy when he was in a danger zone,
he was always out front.Uncle Al responded,
(22:37):
I am at peace with myself andGod and some of these other guys
might not have reached that point yet.
That was the type of soldier youwas going to get with Sergeant Cash,
but he wasn't alone in terms of otherswho looked like him in the sandbox.
Historically,
black Americans have faced significantchallenges within the US military from
(23:01):
segregation to limited opportunitiesfor advancement. However,
by the time of the Persian Gulf War,
African-Americans constituted asignificant portion of the armed forces
making up a substantialpercentage of the army as well.
Their contributions were indispensableand the Warsaw Black soldiers taking on
(23:21):
prominent roles in combatand command positions.
The military campaign was important ona different battlefield than one in the
Middle East.
American superiority when it comes tomilitary prowess was the envy and fear of
the world for most of the 19 hundreds,
particularly how it showed upduring both world wars. But the
(23:44):
Vietnam was a differentstory and after that,
many around the world weren't sure ifthe Americans had what it took to regain
the stature as the one youdon't want to mess with.
And the Iraqis were noscrubs when it came to war.
At the time they had the fourthlargest army in the world,
(24:05):
so the Americans had their hands fulland if America was going to regain
its stature,
it would have to depend on BlackAmerica once again as it always has.
And there is one person of note whois pivotal to achieving that secondary
victory.
Let me turn now to the Iraqi army inthe Kuwaiti Theater of Operations.
(24:26):
As the secretary pointed out, thisis a large combined arms army.
It has tanks, it has personnelcarriers, it has air defense guns.
It has very redundant, resilient,
resilient communications between thedifferent operating echelons of the army.
Has. This is General Colin Powell,
the first African-American chairmanof the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(24:48):
Powell played a crucial role in theplanning and execution of the Gulf War
strategy.
His leadership and strategic acumen wereinstrumental in shaping the coalition's
approach,
emphasizing overwhelming forceto ensure a swift indecisive.
Our strategy to go after thisarmy is very, very simple.
First we're going to cut it offand then we're going to kill it.
(25:09):
General Powell was a greatmilitary, mind creative decisive,
and it was on full displayduring Desert Storm.
Not only was his Desert storm strategygood, it was also overwhelming.
I guest General Powell adopted thedoctrine of Memphis rapper Gangsta Black.
It's the world's thickest click.Some people just don't like it.
(25:29):
Let me explain what I mean. PresidentBush gave a clear objective,
have a limited war with a limited purpose,
to quickly and efficiently kickthe Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.
Understanding the assignment,
general Powell asked todouble the fighting force from
250,000 to a whopping half amillion boots on the ground.
(25:53):
Some people thought this was absurd,
but remember General Powell was aveteran military leader with a great
military mind. Every militarytraining he has ever been a part of,
he has mastered, which meansin his own words, quote,
I am great at my profession.And what were the results you ask?
(26:13):
Let me break it down.
The award officiallybegan on January 17th,
1991 with a massive aerial bombardment
campaign followed by a groundassault. On February 24th,
the coalition forces quicklyoverwhelm the Iraqi defenses and by
February 28th, presidentBush declared a ceasefire.
(26:35):
Kuwait was liberated andthe war was over In just
42 days with few American casualties,
cash would serve bravely in OperationDesert Storm picking up many
commendations,
but his work was far from doneserving in Bosnia and Kosovo,
(26:57):
but also during that time,
he served in one of the greatest rolesas far as this host is concerned.
Drill sergeant, I mentionedthis earlier in our story.
When you are a non-commissioned officer,
you have the responsibility to yoursoldiers. You make sure they eat,
(27:18):
trained properly and show up for duty.
But many black NCOstake it a step further.
You also check on their wellbeing,make sure they call their mom.
And if you were Sergeant Cash,
you go fishing with them from time totime and build that rapport in those
moments. You are not justan NCO, you are a friend,
(27:38):
brother, a person you know willhave your back if chaos broke out.
And if you remember my personalstory with Sergeant Kirk earlier,
this is where I believe that black fatherleadership style really took hold for
Uncle Al. Not to mention he ultimatelyhad a wife, Tomara and kids,
but that dad role served him well asa drill sergeant and beyond a first
(28:00):
lieutenant that served with him oncesaid cash was always in dad mode
in terms of taking care of his soldiers.Honestly,
if the Army wants highly skilledsoldiers with good morale,
you can't go wrong with the blackdrill sergeant who is also a father.
According to a report from the CDC,
(28:21):
black fathers who live with their childrenare more likely than any other group
to have their kidsbathe, dressed, changed,
help to the toilet and eat mealswithin more than any other race group.
Black fathers are also more likely totake their children to and from activities
than any other group. And lastly,
black fathers are also most likely tohelp with their children's homework than
(28:46):
any other group.
From that is easy to extrapolatethat if you want a highly skilled,
highly professional soldier to serveour country and complete the mission,
you want those black NCOs and drillsergeants who are also fathers
and that love, care,
and concern will be on full displayin a familiar theater of war.
(29:06):
Ladies and gentlemen, the presidentof United States, George W. Bush,
I know Deja Vu, right on March 19th, 2003.
My fellow citizens at this hour,
American and coalition forces are in theearly stages of military operations to
disarm Iraq to free its people and todefend the world from grave danger.
(29:30):
On my orders, coalitionforces have began striking,
selected targets of military importanceto undermine Saddam Hussein's ability
to wage war.
In the aftermath of 11th 2001,
the devastating terrorist attacks onthe World Trade Center and the Pentagon
reshaped US foreign policy placinga renewed emphasis on combating
(29:51):
terrorism. President George W.
Bush and his administrationlaunched the War on Terror
with an initial focus on Afghanistanto dismantle the Taliban regime
and Al-Qaeda. However,attention soon shifted to Iraq.
The Bush administration citing concernsover weapons of mass destruction and
(30:12):
alleged ties between SaddamHussein and terrorist groups
began building a case for military action.
Central to this effort was thenSecretary of State Colin Powell.
On February 5th, 2003,
secretary of State Powell delivered apivotal presentation to the United Nations
laying out the US case againstIraq using satellite images,
(30:37):
intercepted communications, andtestimonials from defectors.
Powell argued that Iraq possessedWMDs imposed a significant
threat to global security.
Despite the controversy andlack of concrete evidence.
The US moved forward on March 20th,
2003. The Iraq war officiallybegan with the launch of
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The initial invasion saw a rapid advanceof coalition forces quickly toppling
(31:01):
Saddam Hussein's regime amongthe US troops deployed were a
significant number of African-Americansoldiers just like it was in the
nineties. And as always, SergeantCash would answer the call, not once,
but twice during this era.His sister Casal told him,
don't go over there playing hero.You learn how to duck and come home.
And of course his response was, I'mdoing the job I was trained to do.
(31:24):
I have to take care of my boys.
This leads us to October 17th, 2005.
During Sergeant Cash'ssecond tour of the Iraq War,
the soldiers 17 and allwith an interpreter were tasked with a reconnaissance
mission to ensure that a key supplyroute remains safe to the bead air
(31:46):
base. Normally a US aircraftwould patrol the area,
but a sandstorm took that option away.And in a pivot, three,
Bradley armored vehicles were calledupon as the route was often a place for
firefights. Like I said before,
Sergeant Cash's vehicle that he wasattached to was experiencing a mechanical
malfunction,
(32:07):
so he would hop into first Bradley inthe gunner's hatch to lead the way.
One of the things I mentioned at thetop of this story was the War on Terror
brought about a new way of fighting.
One of the tools used by the enemy wasthe improvise explosion device or IED.
The worst part of that, besides theblast, which can obviously be deadly,
(32:28):
is the deceptive waysthey could be planted.
They could be anywhere lamppost adead animal on the side of the road
or even a sidewalk.
I remember hearing stories of achunk of sidewalk being taken out,
a device planted and then the sidewalkbe resub cemented to look untouched
and it would be that device that setoff a chain of events near Samara
(32:51):
Iraq Square.
Building.
The blast instantly takes out the Bradley,
the one that has Sergeant Cashand the other personnel in it.
It ignited a fuel cell,engulfing the vehicle in flames.
(33:12):
One soldier will reach for thehandle to get out, burning his hand.
He was able to grab a breaching tool andwas able to pry himself free and once
outside the vehicle, he fellto the ground and vomited.
Not long after he drew enemy fire as well.
The interpreter couldn't make itout as he was engulfed in flames.
(33:34):
C Sergeant Cash had a fewminor injuries at this point,
but he was drenched in fuel. However, hemanaged to make it out of the vehicle,
drawing fire on himself.
The first thing he did upon hittingthe ground was look for his soldiers.
Where are my boys inspring? Where are my boys?
Sergeant Cash is in a rough spot.He was under attack,
(33:57):
his vehicle was down so he couldn'tget out of there. More importantly,
his soldiers were notaccounted for. Sergeant Cash had been in many tight spots,
but none like this. We have discussedmany themes in this episode,
one of them being how theblack non-commissioned officer are not just trainers
of soldiers but motors of men. See,
(34:18):
you may think this is a war storyand to a certain extent you're
correct, but the story ofSergeant Cash is deeper than that.
This is a love story, a love of country,
a love of service, and more importantly,
a love of the men underhis responsibility.
(34:38):
You heard me say earlier thata first Lieutenant said of him,
cash was always in dad mode in termsof taking care of his soldiers.
I couldn't have said it bettermyself because on October 17th,
on a chaotic Iraqi night,dad mode was activated.
(34:59):
The other two, Bradleys beginning,laying down cover fire for cash.
As he started pulling out every personone by one from the burning rat,
he started with the interpreterwho was on fire, cash,
put out the flames and got him thesafety. Then the next man, same thing,
put out the flames, pulled himout and got him the safety.
(35:20):
Over time, as you would imagine, Cash'sfuel soaked uniform caught on fire.
He didn't have time for that becausehis men was his top priority.
Sergeant Ca repeated this action,
pulling out all six soldiers fromthe burning Bradley a lot with no
regard to his own safety andwellbeing. One soldier watching said,
(35:43):
I swear it looked like a movie to me,
sharing his utter disbelief at what hewas watching Sergeant Cash pull off and
saving his men whilebeing on fire himself.
Another soldier said that Cass'suniform was unrecognizable and had
essentially completely burned away.Sergeant Cash got everyone out of
(36:05):
the burning rattle, buthis job was far from over
with the enemy now neutralized.
Soon a convoy would pick up the woundedand take them to the helicopter so they
can get further treatment at a hospital.
The first Sergeant ordered all thewounded to get on the helicopters and
instructed Sergeant Cash to bechecked out by medical personnel.
(36:26):
Sergeant Cash ignored the order. In fact,
he was running around checking on hissoldiers, helping them onto stretchers,
telling them they were goingto be all right. Sergeant Cash,
again was asked to be checkedout by the doctors and again,
he ignored the order. So the two ofthem actually got into a shouting match,
(36:47):
but it was clear Sergeant Cash wasrefusing medical treatment until
his men retreated first.
You may not know this if youhave never served in the Army,
but there's a soldier's creed that isrecited. Often there's a line in there
that is pivotal. I willnever leave a fallen comrade.
(37:07):
And Sergeant Cash took these wordsto heart as he argued with the First
Sergeant.
This is something that will get you inserious trouble with serious consequences
In the military, Sergeant Cashdidn't care about any of that.
All he cared about wastaking care of his boy.
Finally, he did relent a bit and waschecked out by a doctor, but even then,
(37:31):
he was checking on his men,
ensuring that they were getting propermedical treatment once he saw that all
his men would be intended to andon the helicopter to evacuate.
Sergeant first Class AlvinCash with over 72% of his body
covered in second and third degreeBurns walked off the battlefield
of his own volition and eventuallyafter much pleading got onto
(37:55):
the stretcher to be evacuated.
Science would explain this as adrenalineas to how he was able to pull off this
feet.
But I think there's more to thisbecause on October 17th, 2005,
Sergeant First Class Alvin Cash provedthat you should never question the heart
of a non-commissioned officer withthe objective of getting his men
(38:20):
home
In the coming weeks,
Sergeant Cash and his menwould be evacuated to Germany and then to Brook Army
Medical Center in San Antonio,Texas to recover from their wounds.
(38:44):
Unfortunately, the interpreterdied the night of the attack.
But as for Sergeant Cash's men,
all of them made it statesidealive and just as he did on the
battlefield while lying inthe bed recovering himself,
he was asking about his men wanting toknow updates and telling anybody who
(39:04):
would listen to tell his mento keep fighting. At this time,
Sergeant Cash was close to the20 year mark in the military,
which would make him eligiblefor retirement in 2008.
That was the plan for him, dohis 20 years and then retire.
I imagine Sergeant Cashspending his retirement fishing,
(39:25):
hunting and doing somethingthat could use his skillset,
maybe teaching soldiers as a civilianor heading up the J-R-R-T-C program
at his old high school backin LV eight Old Florida.
I would've loved that for him.He would've been great at that.
But while in the hospital recovering fromhis injuries and once again displaying
(39:45):
his commitment to service,
he pledged to re-enlist when thetime came and push off retirement a
bit longer.
But unfortunately, hewouldn't get that chance.
Over the next few days,
three of the five soldiers who wereevacuated back to the states with Sergeant
(40:06):
Cash would succumb to theirinjuries. While this is sad,
there is a silver lining.During the second Iraq war,
many casualties never madeit back to the states alive.
The families of those three soldierswho passed away were able to say goodbye
and have that closure. WithoutUncle Al's heroic feat,
(40:29):
they will have never beenafforded that opportunity.
This is a hell of a story,
one that speaks of a kid growing up andnot the greatest of circumstances in
central Florida to a man rising throughthe ranks of one of the greatest
militaries the world has ever seen.
(40:51):
It's a story that reminds us thatcharacter is not defined by the grades you
make in school and that leadershipdoes not require titles and ranks.
It's a story that proves thatin many corners of America,
a hero can rise and show theworld that Black America sets the
example in whatever we do.
(41:15):
On November 8th, 2005, the sonwas set on a great American.
You know him as Sergeant FirstClass Alvin C Cash put some
respect on his name.
(41:39):
Sergeant Cash would be lyawarded the Silver Star,
and many people attended hisfuneral back home in Florida.
Over 250 people were in attendance,
and when it was time for peopleto get up and speak about him,
the line stretch from the pulpitto the front door. Clearly,
he had garnered the respectof his community and the admiration of those outside
(42:01):
of it, which is why verysoon after his death,
the Silver Star didn't feel adequate.
It's been said that heroes getremembered, but legends never die.
It's fitting for Uncle Al to knowhim was to know a man of not just
courage, but someone whoimpacted the lives he touched.
It extended far beyond the men he trained,
(42:24):
even those he had brief encounters withand doing the research for this episode,
I came across many newspaperarticles and videos,
and what I've always found fascinatingwas the comment sections. There are
thousands of them, some of themas recent as a few months ago,
like this one from Vincent 83 80.
(42:44):
I was floundering as a staffsergeant for whatever reason,
call it Divine intervention. Cash tookan interest in my military career.
He gave me the best adviceI ever received in the Army.
I was probably destined toretire as a staff sergeant,
but after him and his advice,
I was promoted twice and endedup retiring as a First sergeant.
(43:06):
He made my career or thisone from K Bold dink.
I had the pleasure of meeting him at11 Mike, MOS training at Fort Benning,
Georgia and serving with him in Korea.
I followed his career path.
I went to drill Sergeant School andMaster Gunner School like he did.
He would always encourage me and push me.
(43:28):
This man is the epitome of a soldier.He is what right
always looked like. I willalways remember his legacy.
Legacy that reminds me of what UncleAl's father told him when he was a kid
about doing good work. Rememberhe said, quote, whatever you do,
do it like you're putting yourname on it. His dad was right.
(43:53):
But when you know thestory of Sergeant Cash,
I think we can take that even further.
I think when you do it likeyou're putting your name on it,
people will begin to putyour name on other things,
which is exactly what happened.
And the campaign forgreater recognition began.
In 2006. Fort Benning renamed atraining facility in his honor.
(44:14):
In 2014, a Florida Army ReserveCenter was dedicated to him.
And in 2018,
the local post office in hishometown of Oviedo was renamed in his
honor in 2021 for Stewartrenamed its Ceremonial Grounds to
Cash Gardens. These gardens areused for high profile ceremonies and
(44:35):
division changes of command. And if youare a soldier going through a promotion,
the promotion board will ask youabout an aspect of Sergeant Cash's
story and you better know it.
But probably the biggest publicity tocement Uncle Al's legacy came during the
2020 NFL season,
(44:55):
players were allowed to take messageson the back of their helmets to promote
social issues. On September28th, Pittsburgh Steeler,
Alejandro Villanueva,
who was the Army Ranger in Bronze Starrecipient tape the name of Al Cash on
the back of his helmet to givethe campaign even more support.
(45:16):
I felt that my decision tohonor Sergeant First Class Alwin
Cash was something that was very personalto me due to the fact that in the
veteran community, that's a strongpush to get him a medal of honor,
which is something that thecommunity believes that he deserves.
Finally,
after much campaigning for 15 yearsfrom the people who served with him,
(45:38):
the Veteran Community Congress and others,
it finally made it toPresident Donald Trump's desk.
And on December 4th, 2020,
HR 8 2 6 7 6 was signedawarding Sergeant First
Class Alvin Cash, the Medal of Honor.
Due to the transition of power at thetime and the events of January 6th,
(46:00):
the ceremony was delayed.But on December 16th, 2021,
we as a country were able to honora man who gave so much to us.
Ladies and gentlemen, the presidentof the United States, Joe Biden.
He was a hero. He was a belovedson and brother, a proud husband,
and a father of three children.
(46:22):
Sergeant Cash and his familygave everything for our country.
The devotion to his memory and their yearsworking to make sure that his courage
and selflessness were properly documentedand honored is a testament to the love
he inspired on the legacy left behindSergeant First Class Cash is now
the seventh individual to receive a medalof honor for his actions in Operation
(46:45):
Iraqi Freedom and the firstAfrican American to receive it.
Since the Vietnam War.
A legacy is important to a family.
It gives us proof of concept andaffirmation that great things can be
(47:07):
achieved because it is in our bloodline.
That is what I am remindedof when I see Andrew Cash,
Alvin's son, who began his militarycareer just a few years ago.
But legacies are alsoimportant to a community.
In an era where people wantto rewrite our history,
(47:28):
even though they haven't lived it,it is important now, more than ever,
to learn from our legacy as itserves as wisdom from the past while
giving us the blueprint to start our own,
which is why we have the story of Alvin C.
Cash who forged his path and wrotehis name in the Annals of history.
The proud son of Florida reminds usthat many of us are called to do great
(47:52):
things, even if the beginning ofour story doesn't look that way.
Because if you are willing tolead with love and work hard,
your legacy can never bedenied and greatness awaits
you.
And that is why Sergeant FirstClass Al C Cash is the American
Sergeant,
(48:16):
the Black As America Podcast.
A presentation of AL'S educationcompany was created and is written,
researched, and producedby me. Dominic Lawson,
executive producer Kendall Lawson,
cover Art was created by AlexandriaIngs of Art Life Connections.
Sources to create this episodeinclude the United States Army,
(48:38):
the Department of Defense, the WhiteHouse, the Center for Disease Control,
the program 60 Minutescourtesy of CBS News, CSP Span,
A BC 10, Sacramento,
Dr. Amy Sturges of Lenore Ryan Universityin collaboration with Learn Liberty,
the Washington Post, theAtlanta Journal Constitution,
(48:59):
the Los Angeles Times,the Orlando Sentinel,
and the Honolulu Star Advertiser.Be sure to
like review and subscribe to theBlack Is America Podcast on Apple
Podcast,
Spotify or wherever you listen topodcast and also let people know
about the podcast. We wouldappreciate that very much.
(49:21):
For a full transcript ofthis episode and others,
go to www.blackisamericapodcast.com.
There you can read our blog,
leave us a review or leave a voicemailwhere you can ask a question or let us
know what you think about the show andwe may play that clip in a different
episode.
(49:42):
Thank you so much for listening to theaward-Winning Black is America Podcast
where our history comesto life. Until next time,
(50:08):
Oh, oh, wow, you're still here.
You must really like this show. Youknow what? I can appreciate that.
Well, since you're still here, allowme to reward you with the treat.
So in the making of this episode, Iwent on a bit of a writing frenzy,
so much so that I had to cutdown and rewrite some of it.
(50:29):
So we didn't focus our attentionaway too much from Alvin Cash.
I like to pack every episodewith a lot of educational value,
but sometimes I overdo it.
Some of the things we cut were backgroundinformation from the Iraq wars.
Some of it was actually condensed,
but a lot of it was justtaken out altogether.
(50:51):
Now you heard the B story where wehighlighted John Horse and the Black
Seminoles,
but there was a C story thatwas cut and that was about
Colin Powell. You know the story,chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
secretary of State, yeah, that guy.
But I think many of us know themild-mannered tactician and diplomat.
(51:14):
But I wrote a story abouthim being about that action.
And you know what allow me to share thatstory with you right now and go back 23
years from 1991 when DesertStorm took place and go right
about here. It's November 16th, 1968,
deep in the jungles of Vietnam.
(51:35):
Major Colin Power on his second tourto the Southeast Asian country is no
stranger to the chaos of war.
His first tour ended abruptly whenhe stepped on a plunge stick trap,
but that didn't deter him.
He returned to Southeast Asia readyto serve his country and his fellow
soldiers. On one fateful day,
Powell's helicopter was hitand went down Al territory.
(51:58):
In the chaos of the crash with thehelicopter ablaze and the threat of enemy
forces closing in,
Powell didn't think twice despitehis own injuries. He got to work.
Major Powell pulled three of his comradesfrom the wreckage and led them to
safety. One of them was trappedunder a twisted burning fusel lodge,
and with his bare hand,
(52:21):
major Powell tore away at the hotmetal to save his soldier. Yeah,
that makes sense.
Sounds like something an ArmyRanger would do for his actions.
Powell earned the soldier's medalfor his bravery that day. Overall,
his two tours would net him aBronze star and two Purple Hearts
charting the path of a remarkablemilitary and public service career.
(52:45):
From National Security Advisor toChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
and ultimately becoming the firstAfrican-American Secretary of State.
His leadership grew to such great heightsthat many thought he could have become
president. Hey, not bad for alittle black kid from Harlem.
Okay, I've taken enough of your time.
(53:08):
Thank you for listening toThe Black As America Podcast.
Please subscribe and review on this veryplatform that you're listening on if
you haven't already. Until next time.
It is a moonlit night on October 17th,
2005 in the Aladin province
of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom,
the first Battalion 15th Infantry regimen.
Third division is on patrol.
Their mission is to ensure a vitalsupply route from the BAH air base
(00:22):
remains safe.
This area is notorious for whatsoldiers call Red Air or what
science call Sandstorms. Andthis night is no different.
The storm is so severe that it preventsUS aircraft from observing potential
threats along the road.Despite the challenges,
(00:43):
many leaders in the unit, includingSergeant First Class Alvin C,
cash consider the roadtoo important to neglect.
This makes sense.
Sergeant Cash has always prioritizedthe mission and teamwork.
The Oviedo Florida native came fromhumble beginnings and often had to work
(01:04):
together with others tosurvive tough conditions and
cash is not new to warfare. Shortlyafter graduating high school,
he enlisted in the United StatesArmy in 1988 and participated in
numerous military conflicts includingOperation Desert Storm in the
early 1990s. So there's not muchyou can throw at Sergeant Cash that
(01:28):
he hasn't seen before. However,
warfare has evolved since the 91version of the Middle East conflict.
Open area battles have largelybeen replaced by military drones,
building to building firefightsand improvised explosive devices
or IEDs. The mission callsfor Bradley fighting vehicles,
(01:50):
heavily armed infantry transportsoutfitted with significant firepower
in the combat precheck,
one of the Bradleys experienceda mechanical malfunction.
This was the one Sergeant Cashwas originally assigned to,
so he decides to get in the lead.Bradley in the gunner's hatch,
leading from the front, a convoyof 17 soldiers and an interpreter.
(02:14):
As a soldier, you are trainedand prepared for a lot.
US military excels at this,but in the fog of war,
deception often prevails.
An IED explodes underneathCassius Bradley,
penetrating and immobilizing the vehicle,
engulfing it into flames.Sergeant Cass's uniform is now drenched
(02:38):
in fuel. His men aretrapped inside the Brad.
Now he makes it out of the gunner'shatch, but once he hits the ground,
he draws enemy fire fired. SergeantCash is in a precarious position.
His men are trapped in a burningvehicle is being shot at and his uniform
is soaked in fuel. Hehas to think quicker.
(03:02):
Lesser men will havefolded under pressure,
but as Marcus Aurelius once said,
the impediment to action advancesaction what stands in the
way becomes the way.
So this Florida native turns soldierknows what he must do and shows us what
people close to him have alwaysknown. Sergeant first Class Owl C.
(03:24):
Cash is just built different.
We come from innovators,heroes, and royalty.
We are our ancestors'. Greatesthope. We face many challenges,
but we mold that adversityinto our greatest strength.
(03:45):
We are the glue that holds a nationtogether and allows it to flourish.
Welcome to Black Is America,
the podcast that highlights little knownAfrican-American figures and stories
that make our history cometo life. I'm your host,
Dominic Lawson. Episode three, Alwin Cash.
(04:07):
The American Sergeant
From the outside looking in, it's easyto think that commissioned officers,
you know your lieutenants, your captains,
and your lieutenant colonels inthe US Army get all the glory.
(04:28):
While many deserveconsiderable recognition,
it is the non-commissionedofficer. These are your sergeants,
sergeant first classes and first sergeantsor the NCO that is considered the
heartbeat of the army.
They are the drill sergeants that moldyou from the time you get off the bus at
basic training to the first sergeantyou answer to at your final roll call.
(04:50):
They are the unsung heroes,
the mentors and the ones thatprovide tough love when needed.
And that is so much truer when it comesto the black non-commissioned officer.
I still remember being part of a livefire exercise with my weapon jammed in
basic training. I knew the protocolwhich to perform the acronym,
sports slap, pull, observe, release,
(05:14):
tap shoot. But this was the firsttime I needed to perform that
action in an exercise and Ipanicked and buckled under the
pressure observing all of thiswith Staff Sergeant Tyrone Kirk.
Now Sergeant Kirk stood about 6 3,
6 4 and was a solid 250 pounds imposing
(05:35):
to say the least. However, his demeanorwas quite different, don't get me wrong.
He was tough, but he was approachable,warm and downright funny.
Imagine Bernie Mack witha drill sergeant's hat.
So he's watching me fail underpressure and he piles on.
It's an onslaught of insults,jokes, name calling and more.
(05:57):
I had never heard him chew out anyother soldier like that before.
And if I'm being honest, I thinkI was more hurt than embarrassed.
But after the training exercise,he pulled me to the side. Lawson,
I know I was tough on you back there,
but that's my job becausewhen you get to the sandbox,
they will have no mercy on you. Thesandbox is what a rack is often called by
(06:20):
military personnel.
He explained that he needed to shakethe jitters and nervousness out of me,
not if but when I was deployed,
but it was what he said next. Ididn't expect his tone became softer.
He sounded more like a dadthan a molder of soldiers.
Lawson man, you are not like mostsoldiers that come into my army.
(06:43):
I can actually see you doingsomething else once you leave service.
Just know that even then you are goingto be put in situations where you will
have to perform.
So whether that be the sandbox or ajob interview in the civilian world,
I want you to be prepared forwhatever is thrown at you.
I never forgot that interaction andas I pursued the entrepreneurial
(07:06):
life and made a name formyself in the podcasting world,
it made an impact on me. I thought abouthim a few years ago and looked him up.
I wanted to say thank you for him pouringinto me that hot Oklahoma afternoon,
but I'll never get thatopportunity because Sergeant Kirk went on to be with the
ancestors on February 7th, 2017.
(07:28):
I want him to know he made an impactin my life and I'll never forget that,
which is why I dedicatethis episode to him,
a man who only spent nine weekswith me that changed everything.
But Sergeant Kirk's legacy is justone of the many black non-commissioned
officers that have made animpact in the United States Army,
(07:51):
making it arguably the most formidablefighting force the world has ever seen.
Their Sergeant William Butler,
part of the Harlem Hell fighters thatwe mentioned in season two or Halen from
the Sunshine State is MasterSergeant Juanita Wilson retired who
after suffering an injuryto her arm in 2004,
became the first African-Americanwoman amputee from a US conflict.
(08:15):
Her resilience and leadershiphave continued as she now advocates for veterans,
proven that the spirit of thenon-commissioned officer never fades on
or off the battlefield.
And that leads us to tell thestory of fellow Floridian Al Cash,
which is one of courage sacrificeand an undying commitment to
(08:37):
his fellow soldiers.
This is the tale that proves that for allthe amazing professionals in the armed
forces, there's nothing likethe NCO clipboard in hand,
heart in the other,
making heroes out of humans.Al Cash was born
July, 1319 in Oviedo,
Florida to Andrew and Ruby May Cash.
(08:59):
He was part of a big family asthe youngest of 10 siblings.
They didn't have the finer things inlife, but they had what they needed.
The patriarch of the familywas a hardworking man in construction who instilled
that work ethic in his kids.He would tell his kids,
whatever you do, do it likeyou're putting your name on it.
(09:19):
He led by example until hispassing very early in Alvin's life.
That's not bad advice. Whatever you do,
do it like you're putting your name onit. I might have to use that later. Now,
uncle Al was the adventurous typeof kid. He loved to fish and hunt.
And when you live in aplace like Central Florida,
(09:40):
you're set up quite nicelyfor those activities.
And then there was the other stuff.Young boys tried to do Bill ramps
and jumped him with your bikeand dare devil type of stuff.
He also would jump off thehouse just to see if he could.
His siblings often teased hismom about being soft on Allen.
Remember he was the youngest of 10. Soby the time his parents are a bit older,
(10:04):
they may not have been as strict asthey were on Allen's older siblings,
but there could be anotherreason they did this as well.
Risk taking is something thatgoes hand in hand with leadership,
but now that I think about it,given where Uncle Al grew up,
risk taking and forging your ownpath is a bit of a common theme.
(10:28):
But who can I be thinking of? Am Ithinking of Daniel Chappy? James Jr.
The Pensacola native who flew almost200 missions in Korea and Vietnam.
He was also the first black fourstar general in military history.
And while serving as the commandingofficer at the US Air Force Base in Libya,
he almost had to pull that burner outon more Margaret Dfi when the Libon
(10:51):
dictator pulled up to the gate. Trustme, there's a whole story there.
Check out the show notes to seewhat I mean, but nah, that's not it.
Who am I thinking of? Who is it thata young Al and Cash reminds me of?
I swear it's on the tip of my tongue.
Our ancestors were some of the mostfiercest fighters doing the war.
(11:13):
During the Indian Wars. Yes.
Wait, Indian Wars. Okay, I think it'scoming back to me. Hey Uncle Bud Crockett,
speak on it a bit further withEmily Cartwright of 60 Minutes.
The longtime CBS news program joggedmy memory just a little bit more.
Due to the fact thatthey knew if they were
recaptured,
(11:34):
they were going intoslavery back in the slavery.
Okay, got it. Let me get you up tospeed. See, Alwin, like I said before,
is born in Vedo, Florida,
which sits in Seminole County referringto the Seminole tribe of Native
Americans, prevalent inFlorida, Oklahoma, and Mexico.
(11:54):
That's who he reminds me of.
The person I was trying to rememberis John Hors and the Black Seminoles.
Yep, you heard me right there is asuch thing as the black Seminoles.
And to show you what I mean,
let's rewind the tape so I can show youthe connection between that risk taking
Spirit and Uncle Al. Man Uncle Bud,
(12:16):
you are a real one for that assist.
I just love when the ancestors comethrough in the clutch like that. Okay,
let's go right about here.
It's Florida. In the early 18 hundreds,
it's a wild untamed land whereNative Americans and runaway
enslaved black people found refuge.
(12:37):
These two groups seekingshelter from oppressive forces,
the US government came together,formed a mixed society having babies,
and from that birth, the blackSeminoles. Now remember during this time,
Florida was not part of theUnited States, but owned by Spain,
but the Spanish made a deal with theblack Seminals that if they defended
(12:59):
Florida,
they were thereby defending the crownso they could stay there in peace as far
as the Spanish were concerned.
So imagine a large community ofNative Americans and black people
working together, thrivingtogether, building families,
but also heavily armed together
(13:21):
after the American RevolutionaryWar. As you can imagine,
many southern white people,particularly those who own the enslaved,
didn't like that at all.
The reason for this that ifyou were enslaved and ran away and found yourself in
Florida,
you would be able to live there andlive your best life as a free person.
(13:43):
And if you were a plantation owner outhere trying to move this cotton and
tobacco and you primarily depended onfree labor, that would be a problem.
I mean, it's a personal problem,but a problem all the same.
So in 1818 then General AndrewJackson invaded Florida in an
attempt to take it for the UnitedStates, and when he got there,
(14:04):
he began murdering theleaders in the territory.
Later the United States wouldpurchase Florida and then General turn
president Andrew Jackson will beginhis infamous doctrine of the removal
of Native Americans,
thereby leading to something you probablyare familiar with. The Trail of Tears.
(14:26):
This prompts the secondSeminole War, a brutal conflict.
It was the costliest of the Indian wars,
both in terms of money andlives lost. Amidst the chaos,
the black Seminoles led by thecharismatic John Hors fought bravely and
for good reason. By this point,
John had helped create the largesthaven in the US South for runaway
(14:49):
enslaved people and led thelargest slave revolt in US history.
In addition to that,
they secured the only emancipationof rebellious enslaved people
prior to the US Civil War.Over the next seven years,
the US government found out that theBlack Seminoles were not an easy way and
had to make a deal withthem to end the fighting.
(15:13):
The agreement promised thatif they move to Oklahoma,
they will be left in peace,
including those who had run awayto be with the Black Seminoles.
But as you know by now,
sometimes the US government beon that when it comes to keeping
promises,
which leads us to the pointwhere US Attorney General Nathan Clifford enters the
(15:34):
chat in 1848,
the Attorney General said that the federalgovernment never had the authority to
recognize their freedom and thatthose who had been enslaved or in fact
still enslaved. So not only didthe white Southerners consider it
open season on these black seminoles,
but even some of the neighboring NativeAmerican tribes would attack them
(15:58):
as well as they traveledto and settled in Oklahoma.
So John Hors knew he had to leavethe state and ultimately the
United States facing betrayal,
John Hors and his followers embarkedon yet another extraordinary journey.
They formed the largest mass exodus ofenslaved people across the United States
(16:19):
ultimately seeking refuge inMexico. And here's the kicker,
John Hors didn't justfind safety in Mexico.
He became a general in the Mexicanarmy. And under his leadership,
the black Seminoles received protectionfrom the Mexican government creating a
new haven for their community.
The story of John Hors inthe Black Seminoles is a statement to the strength and
(16:42):
resilience of those who daredto fight for their freedom.
It also proves that we got it right withthe title of this show as it relates to
aligning ourselves with Native Americans.
Black truly is America.
So yeah, that is whoUncle Al reminded me of.
(17:04):
And it makes sense that he would graduatefrom Oviedo High School at 17 promptly
joined the Army the same yearat the suggestion of a friend.
It fit him because to know Al and Cashwas to know that he was an outgoing and
adventurous kid, but thatdidn't always serve him well.
He often struggled in school and sometimesfound himself in trouble with the
(17:25):
law.
So it's probably safe to assume thathe was seen as a problem child heading
on a trajectory of notbeing a productive citizen.
But as an education company, I thinkthis is a great reminder of two things.
First,
little black boys in schools areoften written off as behavior problems
(17:45):
because they don't conform to whatis seen as air quote traditional
education. But just like everyonecomes from different backgrounds,
everyone also learns differently,
which is why it's imperativefor us as educators,
mentors and parents tomeet kids where they are,
to get them to where they are going.
We should train them to be what theyneed to be for themselves later in life,
(18:09):
not just what we need themto be for us right now.
Because when Uncle Al got intothe army, he found his calling,
but you don't have to take my word for it,
he was casal Cash White Aland sister proving my point.
He liked to hunt fish. He wasall into the things you guys do,
repelling, jumping off ofbuildings when he was younger,
(18:31):
jumping off the top of thehouse just to see if he could.
I tell people he found his niche when hewent into the army because he was able
to use all of his energies and the armydidn't stop him from doing anything.
And my second point is bestsummed up by the queen of jazz,
African-American singer, Ella Fitzgerald.Quote, it's not where you come from,
(18:51):
it's where you're going Thatcounts. And for Uncle Al,
he certainly was going placesin his military career.
He first started off as a supplyspecialist and then came an infantryman.
11 Bravo is the MOS or militaryoccupational specialty.
He proved his leadership medal andbecame a squad leader responsible for
(19:13):
training the soldiers andteam leaders in his squad.
He loved it so much that he ultimatelybecame a drill sergeant wanting to
teach, train and mold the nextcrop of soldiers for the army.
But I'll get into thata little bit more later.
Besides the position Uncle Al would hold,
there will also be the places he wouldbe stationed and deployed around the
(19:36):
world, even to help liberatea Middle Eastern country.
In the early 1990s,
In the late 1980s, there wastension in the Middle East.
Iraq under the dictatorship of SaddamHussein had just emerged from an eight
year war with Iran.
(19:58):
The conflict left Iraq economicallydevastated with staggering debts,
particularly to neighboringKuwait and Saudi Arabia.
So when you're a dictator with a Godcomplex in a broke country that owes debts
to the neighboringcountry, what do you do?
You make accusations and you invade them.
So Saddam Hussein seeking to rebuild hiseconomy and assert regional dominance,
(20:22):
turned his eyes to Kuwait. He accusedthe Kuwaits of slant drilling,
extracting oil from the fields that Iraqconsider its own and of intentionally
depressing oil prices throughoverproduction. So on August 2nd, 1990,
Hussain's forces invaded Kuwaitswiftly overwhelming the small
nation. The internationalcommunity was quick to respond.
(20:46):
The United Nations condemned the invasionand imposed economic sanctions on
Iraq.
This led the US president to build acoalition of nations to liberate Kuwait
and he addressed the nationon January 16th, 1991.
Ladies and gentlemen, thepresident of the United States,
George HW Bush.
(21:07):
This conflict started August2nd when the dictator of Iraq
invaded a small andhelpless neighbor Kuwait.
A member of the Arab League and amember of the United Nations was crushed
its people brutalized. Five months ago,
Sadam Hussain started thiscruel war against Kuwait.
(21:29):
Tonight the battle has been joined.
Operation Desert Shield was launchedmarking the buildup of coalition
forces in Saudi Arabia to deterthe further Iraqi aggression.
By the end of January, 1991,
US troops had been deployed to thePersian Gulf alongside forces from 34
nations.
(21:49):
Among these troops were thousandsof African-American soldiers serving
bravely in various capacities fromthe frontline of infantry to crucial
support roles. And thiswould include Sergeant Cash.
Just four years earlier,
he was running up and down thehalls of Oviedo High School,
but now he found himself in thedesert sands of the Middle East,
(22:13):
but I don't think anyone wasworried about how he would do there.
Uncle Al was the type that trainedvigorously and brought the fight to the
enemy.
Carlos Cash Uncle Al's brother oncetold him about a conversation Alvin
had with an officer. The officer askedwhy when he was in a danger zone,
he was always out front.Uncle Al responded,
(22:37):
I am at peace with myself andGod and some of these other guys
might not have reached that point yet.
That was the type of soldier youwas going to get with Sergeant Cash,
but he wasn't alone in terms of otherswho looked like him in the sandbox.
Historically,
black Americans have faced significantchallenges within the US military from
(23:01):
segregation to limited opportunitiesfor advancement. However,
by the time of the Persian Gulf War,
African-Americans constituted asignificant portion of the armed forces
making up a substantialpercentage of the army as well.
Their contributions were indispensableand the Warsaw Black soldiers taking on
(23:21):
prominent roles in combatand command positions.
The military campaign was important ona different battlefield than one in the
Middle East.
American superiority when it comes tomilitary prowess was the envy and fear of
the world for most of the 19 hundreds,
particularly how it showed upduring both world wars. But the
(23:44):
Vietnam was a differentstory and after that,
many around the world weren't sure ifthe Americans had what it took to regain
the stature as the one youdon't want to mess with.
And the Iraqis were noscrubs when it came to war.
At the time they had the fourthlargest army in the world,
(24:05):
so the Americans had their hands fulland if America was going to regain
its stature,
it would have to depend on BlackAmerica once again as it always has.
And there is one person of note whois pivotal to achieving that secondary
victory.
Let me turn now to the Iraqi army inthe Kuwaiti Theater of Operations.
(24:26):
As the secretary pointed out, thisis a large combined arms army.
It has tanks, it has personnelcarriers, it has air defense guns.
It has very redundant, resilient,
resilient communications between thedifferent operating echelons of the army.
Has. This is General Colin Powell,
the first African-American chairmanof the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(24:48):
Powell played a crucial role in theplanning and execution of the Gulf War
strategy.
His leadership and strategic acumen wereinstrumental in shaping the coalition's
approach,
emphasizing overwhelming forceto ensure a swift indecisive.
Our strategy to go after thisarmy is very, very simple.
First we're going to cut it offand then we're going to kill it.
(25:09):
General Powell was a greatmilitary, mind creative decisive,
and it was on full displayduring Desert Storm.
Not only was his Desert storm strategygood, it was also overwhelming.
I guest General Powell adopted thedoctrine of Memphis rapper Gangsta Black.
It's the world's thickest click.Some people just don't like it.
(25:29):
Let me explain what I mean. PresidentBush gave a clear objective,
have a limited war with a limited purpose,
to quickly and efficiently kickthe Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.
Understanding the assignment,
general Powell asked todouble the fighting force from
250,000 to a whopping half amillion boots on the ground.
(25:53):
Some people thought this was absurd,
but remember General Powell was aveteran military leader with a great
military mind. Every militarytraining he has ever been a part of,
he has mastered, which meansin his own words, quote,
I am great at my profession.And what were the results you ask?
(26:13):
Let me break it down.
The award officiallybegan on January 17th,
1991 with a massive aerial bombardment
campaign followed by a groundassault. On February 24th,
the coalition forces quicklyoverwhelm the Iraqi defenses and by
February 28th, presidentBush declared a ceasefire.
(26:35):
Kuwait was liberated andthe war was over In just
42 days with few American casualties,
cash would serve bravely in OperationDesert Storm picking up many
commendations,
but his work was far from doneserving in Bosnia and Kosovo,
(26:57):
but also during that time,
he served in one of the greatest rolesas far as this host is concerned.
Drill sergeant, I mentionedthis earlier in our story.
When you are a non-commissioned officer,
you have the responsibility to yoursoldiers. You make sure they eat,
(27:18):
trained properly and show up for duty.
But many black NCOstake it a step further.
You also check on their wellbeing,make sure they call their mom.
And if you were Sergeant Cash,
you go fishing with them from time totime and build that rapport in those
moments. You are not justan NCO, you are a friend,
(27:38):
brother, a person you know willhave your back if chaos broke out.
And if you remember my personalstory with Sergeant Kirk earlier,
this is where I believe that black fatherleadership style really took hold for
Uncle Al. Not to mention he ultimatelyhad a wife, Tomara and kids,
but that dad role served him well asa drill sergeant and beyond a first
(28:00):
lieutenant that served with him oncesaid cash was always in dad mode
in terms of taking care of his soldiers.Honestly,
if the Army wants highly skilledsoldiers with good morale,
you can't go wrong with the blackdrill sergeant who is also a father.
According to a report from the CDC,
(28:21):
black fathers who live with their childrenare more likely than any other group
to have their kidsbathe, dressed, changed,
help to the toilet and eat mealswithin more than any other race group.
Black fathers are also more likely totake their children to and from activities
than any other group. And lastly,
black fathers are also most likely tohelp with their children's homework than
(28:46):
any other group.
From that is easy to extrapolatethat if you want a highly skilled,
highly professional soldier to serveour country and complete the mission,
you want those black NCOs and drillsergeants who are also fathers
and that love, care,
and concern will be on full displayin a familiar theater of war.
(29:06):
Ladies and gentlemen, the presidentof United States, George W. Bush,
I know Deja Vu, right on March 19th, 2003.
My fellow citizens at this hour,
American and coalition forces are in theearly stages of military operations to
disarm Iraq to free its people and todefend the world from grave danger.
(29:30):
On my orders, coalitionforces have began striking,
selected targets of military importanceto undermine Saddam Hussein's ability
to wage war.
In the aftermath of 11th 2001,
the devastating terrorist attacks onthe World Trade Center and the Pentagon
reshaped US foreign policy placinga renewed emphasis on combating
(29:51):
terrorism. President George W.
Bush and his administrationlaunched the War on Terror
with an initial focus on Afghanistanto dismantle the Taliban regime
and Al-Qaeda. However,attention soon shifted to Iraq.
The Bush administration citing concernsover weapons of mass destruction and
(30:12):
alleged ties between SaddamHussein and terrorist groups
began building a case for military action.
Central to this effort was thenSecretary of State Colin Powell.
On February 5th, 2003,
secretary of State Powell delivered apivotal presentation to the United Nations
laying out the US case againstIraq using satellite images,
(30:37):
intercepted communications, andtestimonials from defectors.
Powell argued that Iraq possessedWMDs imposed a significant
threat to global security.
Despite the controversy andlack of concrete evidence.
The US moved forward on March 20th,
2003. The Iraq war officiallybegan with the launch of
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The initial invasion saw a rapid advanceof coalition forces quickly toppling
(31:01):
Saddam Hussein's regime amongthe US troops deployed were a
significant number of African-Americansoldiers just like it was in the
nineties. And as always, SergeantCash would answer the call, not once,
but twice during this era.His sister Casal told him,
don't go over there playing hero.You learn how to duck and come home.
And of course his response was, I'mdoing the job I was trained to do.
(31:24):
I have to take care of my boys.
This leads us to October 17th, 2005.
During Sergeant Cash'ssecond tour of the Iraq War,
the soldiers 17 and allwith an interpreter were tasked with a reconnaissance
mission to ensure that a key supplyroute remains safe to the bead air
(31:46):
base. Normally a US aircraftwould patrol the area,
but a sandstorm took that option away.And in a pivot, three,
Bradley armored vehicles were calledupon as the route was often a place for
firefights. Like I said before,
Sergeant Cash's vehicle that he wasattached to was experiencing a mechanical
malfunction,
(32:07):
so he would hop into first Bradley inthe gunner's hatch to lead the way.
One of the things I mentioned at thetop of this story was the War on Terror
brought about a new way of fighting.
One of the tools used by the enemy wasthe improvise explosion device or IED.
The worst part of that, besides theblast, which can obviously be deadly,
(32:28):
is the deceptive waysthey could be planted.
They could be anywhere lamppost adead animal on the side of the road
or even a sidewalk.
I remember hearing stories of achunk of sidewalk being taken out,
a device planted and then the sidewalkbe resub cemented to look untouched
and it would be that device that setoff a chain of events near Samara
(32:51):
Iraq Square.
Building.
The blast instantly takes out the Bradley,
the one that has Sergeant Cashand the other personnel in it.
It ignited a fuel cell,engulfing the vehicle in flames.
(33:12):
One soldier will reach for thehandle to get out, burning his hand.
He was able to grab a breaching tool andwas able to pry himself free and once
outside the vehicle, he fellto the ground and vomited.
Not long after he drew enemy fire as well.
The interpreter couldn't make itout as he was engulfed in flames.
(33:34):
C Sergeant Cash had a fewminor injuries at this point,
but he was drenched in fuel. However, hemanaged to make it out of the vehicle,
drawing fire on himself.
The first thing he did upon hittingthe ground was look for his soldiers.
Where are my boys inspring? Where are my boys?
Sergeant Cash is in a rough spot.He was under attack,
(33:57):
his vehicle was down so he couldn'tget out of there. More importantly,
his soldiers were notaccounted for. Sergeant Cash had been in many tight spots,
but none like this. We have discussedmany themes in this episode,
one of them being how theblack non-commissioned officer are not just trainers
of soldiers but motors of men. See,
(34:18):
you may think this is a war storyand to a certain extent you're
correct, but the story ofSergeant Cash is deeper than that.
This is a love story, a love of country,
a love of service, and more importantly,
a love of the men underhis responsibility.
(34:38):
You heard me say earlier thata first Lieutenant said of him,
cash was always in dad mode in termsof taking care of his soldiers.
I couldn't have said it bettermyself because on October 17th,
on a chaotic Iraqi night,dad mode was activated.
(34:59):
The other two, Bradleys beginning,laying down cover fire for cash.
As he started pulling out every personone by one from the burning rat,
he started with the interpreterwho was on fire, cash,
put out the flames and got him thesafety. Then the next man, same thing,
put out the flames, pulled himout and got him the safety.
(35:20):
Over time, as you would imagine, Cash'sfuel soaked uniform caught on fire.
He didn't have time for that becausehis men was his top priority.
Sergeant Ca repeated this action,
pulling out all six soldiers fromthe burning Bradley a lot with no
regard to his own safety andwellbeing. One soldier watching said,
(35:43):
I swear it looked like a movie to me,
sharing his utter disbelief at what hewas watching Sergeant Cash pull off and
saving his men whilebeing on fire himself.
Another soldier said that Cass'suniform was unrecognizable and had
essentially completely burned away.Sergeant Cash got everyone out of
(36:05):
the burning rattle, buthis job was far from over
with the enemy now neutralized.
Soon a convoy would pick up the woundedand take them to the helicopter so they
can get further treatment at a hospital.
The first Sergeant ordered all thewounded to get on the helicopters and
instructed Sergeant Cash to bechecked out by medical personnel.
(36:26):
Sergeant Cash ignored the order. In fact,
he was running around checking on hissoldiers, helping them onto stretchers,
telling them they were goingto be all right. Sergeant Cash,
again was asked to be checkedout by the doctors and again,
he ignored the order. So the two ofthem actually got into a shouting match,
(36:47):
but it was clear Sergeant Cash wasrefusing medical treatment until
his men retreated first.
You may not know this if youhave never served in the Army,
but there's a soldier's creed that isrecited. Often there's a line in there
that is pivotal. I willnever leave a fallen comrade.
(37:07):
And Sergeant Cash took these wordsto heart as he argued with the First
Sergeant.
This is something that will get you inserious trouble with serious consequences
In the military, Sergeant Cashdidn't care about any of that.
All he cared about wastaking care of his boy.
Finally, he did relent a bit and waschecked out by a doctor, but even then,
(37:31):
he was checking on his men,
ensuring that they were getting propermedical treatment once he saw that all
his men would be intended to andon the helicopter to evacuate.
Sergeant first Class AlvinCash with over 72% of his body
covered in second and third degreeBurns walked off the battlefield
of his own volition and eventuallyafter much pleading got onto
(37:55):
the stretcher to be evacuated.
Science would explain this as adrenalineas to how he was able to pull off this
feet.
But I think there's more to thisbecause on October 17th, 2005,
Sergeant First Class Alvin Cash provedthat you should never question the heart
of a non-commissioned officer withthe objective of getting his men
(38:20):
home
In the coming weeks,
Sergeant Cash and his menwould be evacuated to Germany and then to Brook Army
Medical Center in San Antonio,Texas to recover from their wounds.
(38:44):
Unfortunately, the interpreterdied the night of the attack.
But as for Sergeant Cash's men,
all of them made it statesidealive and just as he did on the
battlefield while lying inthe bed recovering himself,
he was asking about his men wanting toknow updates and telling anybody who
(39:04):
would listen to tell his mento keep fighting. At this time,
Sergeant Cash was close to the20 year mark in the military,
which would make him eligiblefor retirement in 2008.
That was the plan for him, dohis 20 years and then retire.
I imagine Sergeant Cashspending his retirement fishing,
(39:25):
hunting and doing somethingthat could use his skillset,
maybe teaching soldiers as a civilianor heading up the J-R-R-T-C program
at his old high school backin LV eight Old Florida.
I would've loved that for him.He would've been great at that.
But while in the hospital recovering fromhis injuries and once again displaying
(39:45):
his commitment to service,
he pledged to re-enlist when thetime came and push off retirement a
bit longer.
But unfortunately, hewouldn't get that chance.
Over the next few days,
three of the five soldiers who wereevacuated back to the states with Sergeant
(40:06):
Cash would succumb to theirinjuries. While this is sad,
there is a silver lining.During the second Iraq war,
many casualties never madeit back to the states alive.
The families of those three soldierswho passed away were able to say goodbye
and have that closure. WithoutUncle Al's heroic feat,
(40:29):
they will have never beenafforded that opportunity.
This is a hell of a story,
one that speaks of a kid growing up andnot the greatest of circumstances in
central Florida to a man rising throughthe ranks of one of the greatest
militaries the world has ever seen.
(40:51):
It's a story that reminds us thatcharacter is not defined by the grades you
make in school and that leadershipdoes not require titles and ranks.
It's a story that proves thatin many corners of America,
a hero can rise and show theworld that Black America sets the
example in whatever we do.
(41:15):
On November 8th, 2005, the sonwas set on a great American.
You know him as Sergeant FirstClass Alvin C Cash put some
respect on his name.
(41:39):
Sergeant Cash would be lyawarded the Silver Star,
and many people attended hisfuneral back home in Florida.
Over 250 people were in attendance,
and when it was time for peopleto get up and speak about him,
the line stretch from the pulpitto the front door. Clearly,
he had garnered the respectof his community and the admiration of those outside
(42:01):
of it, which is why verysoon after his death,
the Silver Star didn't feel adequate.
It's been said that heroes getremembered, but legends never die.
It's fitting for Uncle Al to knowhim was to know a man of not just
courage, but someone whoimpacted the lives he touched.
It extended far beyond the men he trained,
(42:24):
even those he had brief encounters withand doing the research for this episode,
I came across many newspaperarticles and videos,
and what I've always found fascinatingwas the comment sections. There are
thousands of them, some of themas recent as a few months ago,
like this one from Vincent 83 80.
(42:44):
I was floundering as a staffsergeant for whatever reason,
call it Divine intervention. Cash tookan interest in my military career.
He gave me the best adviceI ever received in the Army.
I was probably destined toretire as a staff sergeant,
but after him and his advice,
I was promoted twice and endedup retiring as a First sergeant.
(43:06):
He made my career or thisone from K Bold dink.
I had the pleasure of meeting him at11 Mike, MOS training at Fort Benning,
Georgia and serving with him in Korea.
I followed his career path.
I went to drill Sergeant School andMaster Gunner School like he did.
He would always encourage me and push me.
(43:28):
This man is the epitome of a soldier.He is what right
always looked like. I willalways remember his legacy.
Legacy that reminds me of what UncleAl's father told him when he was a kid
about doing good work. Rememberhe said, quote, whatever you do,
do it like you're putting yourname on it. His dad was right.
(43:53):
But when you know thestory of Sergeant Cash,
I think we can take that even further.
I think when you do it likeyou're putting your name on it,
people will begin to putyour name on other things,
which is exactly what happened.
And the campaign forgreater recognition began.
In 2006. Fort Benning renamed atraining facility in his honor.
(44:14):
In 2014, a Florida Army ReserveCenter was dedicated to him.
And in 2018,
the local post office in hishometown of Oviedo was renamed in his
honor in 2021 for Stewartrenamed its Ceremonial Grounds to
Cash Gardens. These gardens areused for high profile ceremonies and
(44:35):
division changes of command. And if youare a soldier going through a promotion,
the promotion board will ask youabout an aspect of Sergeant Cash's
story and you better know it.
But probably the biggest publicity tocement Uncle Al's legacy came during the
2020 NFL season,
(44:55):
players were allowed to take messageson the back of their helmets to promote
social issues. On September28th, Pittsburgh Steeler,
Alejandro Villanueva,
who was the Army Ranger in Bronze Starrecipient tape the name of Al Cash on
the back of his helmet to givethe campaign even more support.
(45:16):
I felt that my decision tohonor Sergeant First Class Alwin
Cash was something that was very personalto me due to the fact that in the
veteran community, that's a strongpush to get him a medal of honor,
which is something that thecommunity believes that he deserves.
Finally,
after much campaigning for 15 yearsfrom the people who served with him,
(45:38):
the Veteran Community Congress and others,
it finally made it toPresident Donald Trump's desk.
And on December 4th, 2020,
HR 8 2 6 7 6 was signedawarding Sergeant First
Class Alvin Cash, the Medal of Honor.
Due to the transition of power at thetime and the events of January 6th,
(46:00):
the ceremony was delayed.But on December 16th, 2021,
we as a country were able to honora man who gave so much to us.
Ladies and gentlemen, the presidentof the United States, Joe Biden.
He was a hero. He was a belovedson and brother, a proud husband,
and a father of three children.
(46:22):
Sergeant Cash and his familygave everything for our country.
The devotion to his memory and their yearsworking to make sure that his courage
and selflessness were properly documentedand honored is a testament to the love
he inspired on the legacy left behindSergeant First Class Cash is now
the seventh individual to receive a medalof honor for his actions in Operation
(46:45):
Iraqi Freedom and the firstAfrican American to receive it.
Since the Vietnam War.
A legacy is important to a family.
It gives us proof of concept andaffirmation that great things can be
(47:07):
achieved because it is in our bloodline.
That is what I am remindedof when I see Andrew Cash,
Alvin's son, who began his militarycareer just a few years ago.
But legacies are alsoimportant to a community.
In an era where people wantto rewrite our history,
(47:28):
even though they haven't lived it,it is important now, more than ever,
to learn from our legacy as itserves as wisdom from the past while
giving us the blueprint to start our own,
which is why we have the story of Alvin C.
Cash who forged his path and wrotehis name in the Annals of history.
The proud son of Florida reminds usthat many of us are called to do great
(47:52):
things, even if the beginning ofour story doesn't look that way.
Because if you are willing tolead with love and work hard,
your legacy can never bedenied and greatness awaits
you.
And that is why Sergeant FirstClass Al C Cash is the American
Sergeant,
(48:16):
the Black As America Podcast.
A presentation of AL'S educationcompany was created and is written,
researched, and producedby me. Dominic Lawson,
executive producer Kendall Lawson,
cover Art was created by AlexandriaIngs of Art Life Connections.
Sources to create this episodeinclude the United States Army,
(48:38):
the Department of Defense, the WhiteHouse, the Center for Disease Control,
the program 60 Minutescourtesy of CBS News, CSP Span,
A BC 10, Sacramento,
Dr. Amy Sturges of Lenore Ryan Universityin collaboration with Learn Liberty,
the Washington Post, theAtlanta Journal Constitution,
(48:59):
the Los Angeles Times,the Orlando Sentinel,
and the Honolulu Star Advertiser.Be sure to
like review and subscribe to theBlack Is America Podcast on Apple
Podcast,
Spotify or wherever you listen topodcast and also let people know
about the podcast. We wouldappreciate that very much.
(49:21):
For a full transcript ofthis episode and others,
go to www.blackisamericapodcast.com.
There you can read our blog,
leave us a review or leave a voicemailwhere you can ask a question or let us
know what you think about the show andwe may play that clip in a different
episode.
(49:42):
Thank you so much for listening to theaward-Winning Black is America Podcast
where our history comesto life. Until next time,
(50:08):
Oh, oh, wow, you're still here.
You must really like this show. Youknow what? I can appreciate that.
Well, since you're still here, allowme to reward you with the treat.
So in the making of this episode, Iwent on a bit of a writing frenzy,
so much so that I had to cutdown and rewrite some of it.
(50:29):
So we didn't focus our attentionaway too much from Alvin Cash.
I like to pack every episodewith a lot of educational value,
but sometimes I overdo it.
Some of the things we cut were backgroundinformation from the Iraq wars.
Some of it was actually condensed,
but a lot of it was justtaken out altogether.
(50:51):
Now you heard the B story where wehighlighted John Horse and the Black
Seminoles,
but there was a C story thatwas cut and that was about
Colin Powell. You know the story,chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
secretary of State, yeah, that guy.
But I think many of us know themild-mannered tactician and diplomat.
(51:14):
But I wrote a story abouthim being about that action.
And you know what allow me to share thatstory with you right now and go back 23
years from 1991 when DesertStorm took place and go right
about here. It's November 16th, 1968,
deep in the jungles of Vietnam.
(51:35):
Major Colin Power on his second tourto the Southeast Asian country is no
stranger to the chaos of war.
His first tour ended abruptly whenhe stepped on a plunge stick trap,
but that didn't deter him.
He returned to Southeast Asia readyto serve his country and his fellow
soldiers. On one fateful day,
Powell's helicopter was hitand went down Al territory.
(51:58):
In the chaos of the crash with thehelicopter ablaze and the threat of enemy
forces closing in,
Powell didn't think twice despitehis own injuries. He got to work.
Major Powell pulled three of his comradesfrom the wreckage and led them to
safety. One of them was trappedunder a twisted burning fusel lodge,
and with his bare hand,
(52:21):
major Powell tore away at the hotmetal to save his soldier. Yeah,
that makes sense.
Sounds like something an ArmyRanger would do for his actions.
Powell earned the soldier's medalfor his bravery that day. Overall,
his two tours would net him aBronze star and two Purple Hearts
charting the path of a remarkablemilitary and public service career.
(52:45):
From National Security Advisor toChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
and ultimately becoming the firstAfrican-American Secretary of State.
His leadership grew to such great heightsthat many thought he could have become
president. Hey, not bad for alittle black kid from Harlem.
Okay, I've taken enough of your time.
(53:08):
Thank you for listening toThe Black As America Podcast.
Please subscribe and review on this veryplatform that you're listening on if
you haven't already. Until next time.
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